[sdiy] Phase shifts and instantaneous frequency

[cheater cheater]

Tom,

Your question can be approached from two ends.

To answer: I said 'ears doing fourier transform' makes no sense simply
as that: because it did not for me. Fourier analysis is a numerical
tool that allows you to change the form of a signal in a very certain
way. The human brain's psychoaccoustics may or may not display similar
behaviour under certain conditions, but it is nearly impossible to
prove that the way the human auditory system works is anywhere near
frequency-oriented. It might be oriented in any other of infinitely
many possible domains, not the time domain, not the frequency domain.
Certainly the ear does not have the facility to integrate numerically,
much less do something like the Laplace transform.

Turning this around, I would welcome it if you could explain to me
what it means that the ear does fourier analysis. However, this is not
to be perceived as a stab, just an explanation of my point of view.
Can you make sense out of 2+2=3? Probably not - but many
mathematicians could write books about an equation of this sort,
algebra is a whole volume of mathematics that has to do with seemingly
absurd equations that turn out to do very deep things. I have not
explained to you what context 2+2=3 is in, and you would probably
think I'm very stupid to write this. If I explained it to you, your
approach would probably change. So would mine, if Ian took the effort
to express himself in full. Half-thoughts are great kept to yourself
for later clarifications... Speaking of which, did you know that it
took several generations of mathematicians to come up with the correct
*wording* of the idea of the differential? Effort well put I would
say.. Without that tiny bit which is the correct wording, we wouldn't
have fridges, space shuttles, and cars.

The more important reason for my modus operandi is that in technical
conversations I find it helpful if people point out inconsistencies in
how I express myself. So, for example, the auditory system might
display behaviour similar to working on a frequency-domain 'signal',
but then that would not be called the Fourier transform by any chance,
and instead have its own name. Seeing how this helps me I try to
reciprocate when talking with others. This whole thing probably has to
do with the fact that I come from a maths background, which implanted
this strictness in my mind. Consider the fact that a simple wording
mistake in a paper can lead you to develop a theory and write three
books over the course of 6 years, after which you find out that the
very basis of your whole work is faulty and everything can be
scrapped. This is extremely important in this scenario. A story told
by one of the TAs a long time ago: In my department there was a
student who developed his Master's degree dissertation upon a
coursebook recommended by the lectors, and the theorem which it was
based upon was erroneous. Half a year's work went to waste. I'm not
sure whether that person finally completed their education.

With that said, I appreciate what you say and put great value into it
and agree that my words may have been annoying. I am sorry for this
and do admit that this was out of line, now considering the fact that
some people don't come from the same kind of background and do not
understand the rationale behind my actions.

However, I hope that there are at least several people that appreciate
true hatred towards scientific folklore and metaphysics! I'm sure I'll
spend a lot of resources spreading this :)

That said, this should not be mixed with interpersonal relationships
and I hope in the future to better myself in my attempts to express
that I do not want to touch the person, but the idea, in my
divagations.

Damian

On 7/16/08, Tom Wiltshire <tom at electricdruid.net> wrote:
>
>
> > Why am I questioned about this?
> >
>
>  Because comments like "No... just no...No. Makes no sense." aren't an
> explanation of your point of view. We're not interested in you dismissing
> what someone else has written unless you've got some good reasons for so
> doing; please let's hear them when you post.
>
>  Regards,
>  Tom
>
>
>  PS: For Harry's benefit, here's that picture again:
>
>
>  http://www.electricdruid.com/beatwave.jpg
>
>
>
>